Latest news with #OPE
Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Ya Biladi
Ceuta enhances border crossing with Morocco for «Operation Marhaba»
Authorities in the city of Ceuta have introduced a series of regulatory measures to streamline traffic flow through the border crossing with Morocco, as part of preparations for Operation Paso del Estrecho (OPE), which runs from June 15 to September 15. According to local government sources cited by EFE, the new measures focus on the temporary waiting area at Loma Colmenar, located about 100 meters from the Tarajal border crossing. This area serves as a holding point for vehicles arriving from the Port of Algeciras, helping prevent congestion on the roads leading to the border. The site has been upgraded with new technology, including a mobile application called «Embolsamiento Ceuta». The app provides real-time updates on estimated wait times and traffic conditions, particularly useful during weekends and peak travel days. Available in Spanish, French, and English, the app issues digital tickets containing QR codes for check-in and check-out at the site. Paper tickets are also available as an alternative. The app, available on the App Store and Google Play, aims to enhance the crossing experience by providing travelers with up-to-date information and helping them plan their journeys more effectively. The temporary waiting area will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to handle the anticipated surge in traffic during the OPE period. To support operations, staffing at the site has been reinforced, with 7 to 10 employees working daily across three shifts to ensure continuous service. Infrastructure at the facility has also been improved, including the expansion of shaded areas and the installation of additional drinking water points to ensure the best possible conditions for travelers. Civil protection services estimate a 4% increase in the number of people crossing and a 5% increase in vehicle traffic this year, while also noting a gradual decline in the percentage of travelers using their own cars.
GMA Network
22-05-2025
- GMA Network
PDEA: 8 informants received cash rewards worth P11.6M
Eight civilian informants received a total of P11,633,843 in cash rewards under the monetary incentive program Operation: Private Eye (OPE), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said Thursday. In a statement, PDEA said four informants received P2 million each. One of the informants helped in the seizure of 49,705.20 grams of shabu worth P340 million and the arrest of two suspects during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City, on March 14. Another informant contributed to the confiscation of 39,859.60 grams of shabu worth P272 million and the arrest of a drug personality after a buy-bust operation in Binangonan, Rizal, on March 19. 'In a literal sense, vigilance pays off. Reliable information in exchange for monetary consideration,' PDEA director general Undersecretary Isagani Nerez said. 'Imagine, if more members of the community are vigilant and proactive in combating the drug trade, a vast network of eyes and ears remains at PDEA's disposal. It is definitely a huge boost for us considering our limited manpower,' he added. PDEA said the OPE reward committee, which approves the monetary rewards for the informants, is composed of the agency's key officers as well as members from the business, academe, and religious sectors. — VBL, GMA Integrated News
Scottish Sun
23-04-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Baby food and kitchen staples teeming with toxic plastic additives, study warns – even in GLASS jars
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) COMMON foods have been found to be teeming with concerning levels of toxic plastic additives by scientists - including baby foods and meals in glass jars. Baby foods like pureed vegetables and fresh meat were among the foods found to contain high quantities of plasticisers - chemicals added to plastics to make them more flexible and easier to handle. 2 Baby foods like pureed vegetables were among foods found to contain high quantities of plasticisers Credit: Getty The highest levels were found in microwave-in-a-bag vegetables like broccoli and potatoes. After just five minutes of cooking , ATBC (a chemical compound used as a plasticiser) in these foods increased 50-fold, according to the new study from experts at the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research in Barcelona, Spain. Cooking oils were found to contain the least amount of plasticisers, out of the 109 foods studied. Plasticisers have been linked to a variety of health concerns, including reproductive issues and developmental problems. In the study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials, scientists analysed over 100 foods sold in Spanish supermarkets looking for traces of more than 20 different harmful plastic additives. The foods were categorised into eight groups - baby foods, condiments, fish products, eggs and dairy, meat, oils, fruit and vegetables and cereals, legumes and sweet products. Products were tested for chemicals before and after cooking. Concerning levels of the different plastic additives were detected, including organophosphate esters (OPEs) which were found in 85 per cent of the products. Studies have shown associations between OPE exposure and impacts on respiratory health, endocrine function, and even potential carcinogenic risks. High levels of tyltributyl citrates (ATCBs) and DEHAs were also detected - chemicals commonly used in food packaging such as clingfilm to make it bendy. Cleaning Up The UK: The Fight Against Plastic Wet Wipes The highest amounts of OPEs, ATCBs and DEHAs were found in meat and baby food. Phthalates are a type of plasticiser also used to make plastics more flexible, durable and transparent. Also classed as a 'forever chemicals', while some phthalates can be rapidly excreted, many aren't removed from the body quickly, and may persist for longer periods. Because of this, many food manufacturers have made use of alternative substances to create plastic packaging. But the scientists behind this new study say the alternatives may carry as many risks. Co-author Julio Fernández-Arribas said: "The results presented in this study confirm the presence of various types of plasticisers in foodstuffs, and emphasises the potential source of exposure to new alternative plasticisers whose long-term health effects are under scrutiny." 2 DEHA was mainly found in fresh foods wrapped in plastic Credit: Getty Interestingly, there were significant differences in DEHA and ATBC levels across foods by packaging type. ATBC was predominantly detected in foods packaged in glass containers, likely due to migration from plasticised coatings in lids. While DEHA was mainly found in fresh foods wrapped in plastic. The long-term effects of microplastics on human health are still not fully understood, though emerging research highlights concerns they may accumulate in the body and contribute to various health issues. A recent study discovered tiny plastic particles in the arteries of stroke patients with blocked blood vessels.
Al-Ahram Weekly
09-04-2025
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Pyramids' new entrance trial faces backlash despite record number of visitors - Tourism
The trial opening of the new entrance to the Giza Plateau's newly developed area faced a backlash despite the record number of visitors flocking. The difficulties have been attributed to the inadequacy of new transportation and protests from traditional horse and camel owners. Horse and camel owners, traditionally providing rides to tourists, gathered near a newly designated road entrance to the area, blocking tourist buses and chanting against the development due to concerns about their livelihoods. The project—a collaboration between the Egyptian government and the privately owned Orascom Pyramids Entertainment (OPE)—has closed the traditional direct entrance to the Pyramids near the Marriott Mena House. Instead, a new organised entrance has been established on the Fayoum Highway, south of the Giza Pyramids, to alleviate congestion and pollution concerns. Under the new system, private cars and tourist buses are barred from entering the site, with eco-friendly electric vehicles now providing transportation within the area. Additionally, horse and camel owners—who previously operated independently—were relocated to other areas to organise camel and horse riding for visitors without interfering with main transportation routes. However, several visitors and tourist guides took to social media to express their dissatisfaction, sharing chaotic scenes depicting visitors struggling to access the site amid the "insufficient number of electric vehicles". The OPE, responsible for operating electric vehicles within the area, stated that the initial hours of the trial operation were smooth, with a record 13,800 visitors between 7:00 am and 11:00 am on Tuesday. In a statement, the company went on to say that problems began at 11:00 am after the number of visitors started to increase significantly and after horse and camel owners blocked the road at several locations without what they described as "decisive intervention from security authorities." The company blamed the protesters for disrupting transportation in the area, accusing them of threatening to hurt the company's employees and damage its buses. Despite the setbacks, OPE affirmed its commitment to the trial operation with the government to identify problems and gather feedback for practical solutions. It added that it has presented a proposal to allow tourism companies to use their own electric buses within the plateau to help facilitate transportation. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities issued a statement saying the area saw 12,000 visitors on Tuesday, representing a 120 percent increase over the area's average daily visitor numbers. The ministry attributed the disruption in transportation in the area to the failure of some horsemen and camel owners "to adhere to designated parking zones," which led to delays in the arrival of buses transporting visitors between the various visitation routes in the area at the specified times." In contrast to OEP's statement, the Ministry of Tourism stressed that the animal owners were swiftly returned to their designated locations and bus traffic resumed smoothly. It added that the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, directed that the number of tourist buses operating in the area be increased to address the problem. Despite its commitment to a long-term plan to introduce electric buses, the ministry said Fathy approved the immediate deployment of additional diesel buses to ease transportation. Furthermore, the ministry affirmed that it was committed to closely monitoring the trial operation to ensure a smooth and efficient experience for all visitors as the new system is fully implemented. The Great Pyramid of Giza, the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, is a powerful symbol of Egypt's heritage and a cornerstone of its tourism industry, one of the country's primary sources of foreign currency. The Egyptian government has developed a national tourism strategy to boost the sector to attract 30 million visitors by 2028. In 2024, Egypt welcomed 15.7 million tourists and generated $14.1 billion in total revenue, exceeding the previous record of 14.9 million visitors set in 2023. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
